Calypso

• Where did Calypso music originate?

  Trinidad and Tobago
• What do the lyrics of Calypso songs often comment on?

  Politics and society
• What is the characteristic rhythm of Calypso music?

  Syncopated
• What instruments might be found in modern Calypso songs?

  Electric guitars, synthesizers, and drum kit
• What are the key features of the melodies in Calypso music?

  Short phrases with call and response
• In what key is the Calypso song typically composed?

  Major key
• What are the primary chords used in Calypso music?

  1, 4, and 5
• What is the structure of a Calypso song?

  • Verses
  • Choruses
  • Instrumental sections
• Who performs the lyrics in a Calypso song?

  Main singer and backing vocals
• What texture is typical in Calypso music?

  Melody and accompaniment
• How is the Calypso rhythm evident in the instrumentation?

  In guitar strumming and percussion parts
• What happens at the beginning of each verse in Calypso music?

  There are stops in the rhythm
• What is a traditional song from Haiti that is popular in steel bands?

  Yellow Bird